Refuse collecting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for collecting refuse in a residential estate with multistory buildings is characterised in that each building has a vertical refuse chute column terminating at a low level in a respective collecting receptacle and the different collecting receptacles are served by a programme-controlled collecting vehicle which circulates in a casing situated underneath these receptacles. The vehicle is discharged at a station which contains a general and displaceable collecting receptacle.

rte States atent i 1 1111 3,369,056

Michel [451 Mar. 4, 1975 [54] REFUSE COLLECTING APPARATUS 1,117,77711/1914 Brown 214/41 A 1,898,421 2/1933 Brashear... [75] Inventor:Jeen'claude 3,753,506 8/1973 Palmer et al 214/16 RSarnt-Maur-des-Fosses, France [73] Assignee: Societe lndustrielle deTransports Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Automobiles (societ Anoyme), Attorney, Agent, or F irmKarl W. Flocks Paris, France 22 Filed:Oct. 30, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for collecting refuse in aresidential estate [21] Appl L065 with multistory buildingsischaracterized in that each building has a vertical refuse chute columnterminat- [52] 111.8. Cl. 214/16 R, 214/41 A ing at a low level in arespective collecting receptacle [51] Int. Cl. B66c 5/02 and thedifferent collecting receptacles are served by a [58] Field of Search214/ 16 R, 41 A programme-controlled collecting vehicle which circulatesin a casing situated underneath these receptacles. [56] References CitedThe vehicle is discharged at a station which contains a UNITED STATESPATENTS general and displaceable collecting receptacle.

648,279 4/1900 McCartney 214/16 R 22 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresPATENTEDHAB 41915 3,869u05O "suwlnrs PATENTEB HAR 41975 SHEET 2 BF 6PATENTED 5 PATENTED 41975 sumsgge 1 REFUSE COLLECTING APPARATUS Thisinvention concerns apparatus for collecting refuse in a group ofresidential houses distributed in a developed area. i

The collection of refuse in such a group of houses is usually operatedin the same fashion as in urban collections which presents obviousdisadvantages for the residents. Moreover the refuse dump of aresidential estate is not provided or planned for the daily passage ofvehicles such as refuse vans.

The present invention eliminates these disadvantages.

According to the invention each refuse chute of each building terminatesat a low level in a collecting receptacle and the different receptaclesare served by at least one collecting vehicle which circulates within acasing situated below the receptacles the vehicle being discharged at astation which contains a general, displaceable refuse collectingreceptacle. This last receptacle advantageously includes a device forcompactation.

The casing may be in the form of a closedcircuit, the collecting vehiclecirculating along this circuit in the same sense always. These vehiclesmay for example be connected to a closed-towing cable which describesthe same circuit and which is actuated from a central propulsionstation.

Preferably the service path is linear and there is only a single vehiclewhich circulates on it; the vehicle is self propelling and covers thepath reciprocatingly, being guided by the casing.

In this way one can achieve automatic control of the service relativelysimply.

Advantageously this vehicle is electric and is propelled by an array ofbatteries automatically charged when the vehicle regains its restposition. One can employ also a trolley type vehicle or one with lateralsliding contacts so as to drive it be alternating current, preferablythree-phased, to obtain a reversal of circulation by a simple change ofthe order of the phases.

In an advantageous embodiment the collecting receptacles of thebuildings are equipped with distributors which at each manoeuvre meterthe volume of refuse deposited in the collecting vehicle and thisvehicle has a counting device and starts off again in reverse towardsits departure point as soon as it has received a number of dosescorresponding to its capacity.

The circulation casing may be formed of elements made of sheet metal orof plastics material or, in the spaces between the buildings, it can bemade in the form of a masonry gutter erected on site or prefabricated.Arranged so as to best conceal the installation the upper level of thiscasing is preferably at ground level and is inspectable in such thatwithin the buildings the casing can be installed under the ceiling ofthe basements.

When the vehicle or vehicles are equipped with tyres,

quite strong slopes are permitted without great drawbacks.

In the case of very broken terrain the casing can leave the ground whereit crosses hollows in the road; their upper faces can thenadvantageously constitute the circulation level or apron of foot bridgesor of bridges crossing these hollows.

Since the output of a rubbish chute of a building is statisticallyproportional to the importance of this building the programme of visitsby the collecting vehicle can be established in advance and can be madesubject to an automatic cycle. Without modifying the programme the cyclecan be accelerated during public holiday periods and retarded duringsummer holiday periods.

The installation may include in. each building a stop for the vehiclecarrying an access trap door for the manual charging of large objectswhich cannot be received by the refuse chute columns.

The attached drawings will allow a good understanding of how theinvention may be carried out.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the assembly of the installation accordingto the invention in a vertical section,

FIG. 2 is a transverse section of a casing constructed in the form of aninspectable gutter,

FIG. 3 is a section of a casing established under the ceiling with anelevation of the vehicle which circulates there,

FIG. 4 is a transverse section of the casing of a collecting receptaclein a building,

FIG. 5 shows in section and in elevation another embodiment of such areceptacle,

FIG. 6 is an elevation of an embodiment of a station having a generalcollecting receptacle, corresponding FIG. 7 is a detail of the emptyingmechanism of the collecting vehicle,

FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram of the electric installation. Thisfigures includes the two parts 8a and 8b chute columns 1 each debouchinginto a collecting receptacle 2. All these receptacles are disposed abovea casing 3 permitting the circulation of collecting vehicles.

In the part 3a and 3b of its length this casing is in the form of aninspectable gutter at ground level as shown in detail in FIG. 2, withmetal covers 4.

In the part 30 the casing is constructed from masonry at the level ofthe foundation raft. of the building.

In the part 3d the casing with its removeable cover forms a box girderwhich may serve as a foot bridge to pedestrians between the buildings Band C.

Finally in the part 3e (see FIGS. 3 and 5) the casing is constituted bya bent plate 5 which is suspended from the ceiling of the basement ofthe building by means of stirrups 6.

Whatever is its form of construction the casing is of uniformrectangular section and has smooth walls which allows the independentrolling of a vehicle (indicated as a whole by 7) with is provided on theone hand with tyred wheels 8 which can co-operate in the casing withreinforced horizontal tracks 9 (possibly treated so as to have a highcoefficient of friction) and on the other hand with guiding rollers 10having a horizontal axis applied against the side walls of the casing.These rollers, which may have tyres, have at least rubber rims.

From FIG. 3 it will be realised that each wheel is individually drivenby an electric motor 11 via reduction gears 12, each motor including atthe end of a shaft an electromagnetic brake 13.

It is clear that the casing 3 shown as rectilinear in FIG. l may includerounded elbows having a curvature compatible with the vehicle 7 beingable to take these curves and that in this case the independent drive ofthe individual wheels facilitates the negotiation of these curves.

The vehicle 7 (see FIG. 6) includes a chassis 14 made of metal sectionscarried directly by the wheels 8 and supporting a container 15 having aninverted pyramidal form which, in order to be emptied, can be pivotedabout an axis defined by pivot pins 16 engaged in bearing blocks of thechassis 14.

In the normalsituation the container rests on the chassis with its sidebeams 18 in contact with elastic props 19.

In the pivoted position (position 15 on FIG. 6) the contents of thecontainer can slide along the apron 21 integral with the vehicle 7 andon the stationary flap 22 integral with a buffer 24 of the vehicle 7which joins with the apron in the position shown at the end of the pathof the vehicle.

The contents of the container are thus brought into a fixed hopper 30provided witha suitable tamping device for driving and compressing therefuse which has been passed into it into a box 31.

To ensure that the container 15'is emptied, the latter in the course ofits pivotal movement abuts against a transverse buffer 32 carried by agirder 33 mounted on a cross beam, or connecting the walls, of astructure 34 in which the box 31 is mounted. This structure comprises alarge door 32 (FIG. 1) for the periodical emptying of the box and itsreplacement by an empty box.

The pivotal movement of the container 15 carried by the vehicle 7 may beachieved by several automatic means e.g., that shown in detail in FIG.7.

On both sides of the cat walk 35 on which the vehicle is received in thestructure 34, there are bearing blocks 36 coaxial with the pivoting 16in the final position of the movement of the vehicle 7.

Two shafts 37 are journalled in these bearings and carry at the side ofthe track 35 cranks 38 terminating in a pair of elastic buffers 38a, 38bwhich form a fork and are capable of coming into engagement with twoedge faces 15a of the container 15. Toothed gear wheel 39 are wedged onthese same shafts and are in mesh with reduction gearing 40 carried onshaft 41 also journalled for rotation on fixed bearings.

The shafts 41 are integral with cranks 42 the ends of which arearticulated the piston rods 43 of rams 44 themselves articulated attheir base.

At rest the two cranks 38 and 42 are generally horizontal and areoriented in mutually opposite directions such that the flanges 15a canpass between the elastic buffers 38a and 38b. Moreover the pressuresupplied by the ram 34 and the resistance to pivoting by the containerare initially at maximum. Progressively as the cranks pivot the torqueexerted on the shafts 36 and 41 diminish.

However by virtue of the reduction gearing the crank 42 does not attaina vertical position, while the play in the gear transmission may be suchthat the end of the pivotal movement of the container is reached byabutting against the elastic abutment 33a when the centre of gravity ofthe container has just passed the vertical.

In this way the container 15 is shaken by this abutment which achievesthe emptying. To return the container to its normal position the buffers38b act in their turn against the edge of the container to return it tothe vertical position after which the container falls back agains thebuffers 38a.

For displacing the vehicles motors 11 are supplies by the batteries 20.At the end position of the movement of the vehicle 7 a pair ofconductive brake shoes 45 carried by these vehicles come into engagementwith a pair of conductive contact studs joined to a charging post 47; inthis way during the rest periods of the vehicle the batteries areautomatically permanently charged. It is known that certain batteries,especially the alkali ones may without disadvantages be charged fullyand even over-charged without necessitating the addition of water.

The end position of the movement of the vehicle 7 is obtained by theengagement of the buffers 23 carried by it with the abutment 24 disposedat the end of the track 35 of the vehicle.

At the side remote from the buffers the vehicle carries an automaticcoupling hook 25 which can be engaged with a rod 26 located between thebuffers 23 of a similar vehicle for an emergency repair of the latter.

An embodiment of the collecting receptacle 2 for a building is shown inFIG. 4. The hopper like base 48 of this receptacle is closed by ametering device 49 or distributon. This latter is moveable between theposition shown in full lines and the dotted line position 49 andconsists of a part 49a in the form of a trough and the part 4% in theform of a cylindrical segment, the two parts being integral with oneanother and carried by a shaft 50, the two parts being alternatelyplaced against the opening 48a of the hopper n this way at eachreciprocating movement of the distributor an equal amount of charge fromthe contents of the trough falls into the container 15 of the vehicle 7.

This reciprocating movement is obtained by means of ajack 50 the pistonrod 51 of which is pivoted on a lug 52 carried by one of the faces ofthe metering device.

One of the plain walls 53 of the bottom of the hopper is moveable aboutan axis 54 such that this part can be retracted, as shown at 53,, toallow the manual emptying of the collecting receptacle 2 into anauxiliary vehicle 56 in the case ofa failure or blockage of thereceptacle 2.

To this end the filling station is closed at the front by an inspectiondoor 57 which takes up the position 57 when it is maintained open bycallipers 58. This inspection flap door is closed by a lock andadvantageously carried a mark 59 for indicating the presence of thevehicle 7 at the filling post. The actuation of these marks is assuredas shown in FIG. 8.

In normal service the wall 53 is subjected to the action of a jack 60which moves the said wall by small reciprocating movements and preventsthe formation of heaps which would prevent the descent of rubbish in thehopper-like part 48 of the receptacle 2.

In addition a fixed plate 61 connects the base of the pivoting wall 53with the edge of the container 15 to prevent the dispersion of therubbish falling from the distributor along the arrow 62 during themovement of the distributor.

Since, however, some scattering of dust and tiny fragments of rubbish isinevitable, a portion 63 of the rolling track of the vehicle 7, whichincludes hollows 63a for the accumulation of this refuse can bedisengaged in the absence of this vehicle in the manner of a drawer-likeashbin, so as to be periodically cleaned.

Finally each collecting receptacle 2 comprises a motor pump 64 forfeeding the jacks 50 and 60 and a box 65 which contains the automaticelectric controls of the installation of which the schematic diagram isshown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 5 the filling post of a collecting receptacle may alsobe located practically at ground level in which case the casing 3 isarranged so as to pass under the ceiling of the basement.

The ashbox 63 must then be emptied in the basement and, if it isnecessary, in the case of a blockage the flap door 53 is retracted toempty its contents at the floor level 56.

.A discharge of the distributor 49 is then effected across a hole 57arranged in the ceiling of the basement.

Such a hole covered by a trap door 68 (see FIG. 1) may also be arrangedin the floor of a ground floor room so that it may be possible todischarge directly into the container "objects which are cumbersome andwhich cannot be passed down the refuse chute column. In this case, aswill be explained below, this locality has a call button for the vehicle7 which brings it automatically in register with the trap door.

For obvious reasons of safety, access to the locality containing thetrap door 68 must be reserved to a responsible person.

The automatic operation by eletric means of this installation isschematically shown in FIG. 8.

In this Figure the assembly I corresponds to the emptying station, theassembly II to the vehicle 7, the assembly III to the first collectingstation (that of building A, for example) the assembly IV to anintermediary collecting post (building B) and finally the assembly V toa final collecting position (to secure ones thoughts, that of theassembly C).

schematically the operation is as follows: The container 15 has a usefulcapacity corresponding to a certain number of charges or doses suppliedby the distributors, for example 3 to 5.

In addition the normal emptying of the contents of the collectingreceptacles necessitates at each visit a certain number of movements ofthe metering device, for example from 1 to 3, which number is determinedby statistical studies.

The automatic device is, organised so that when the vehicle arrives atthe first station it receives doses counted by the latter and countsthem itself.

If the first number is lower than the capacity of the vehicle, thelatter continues on its way to the next position; otherwise as soon asit has received its fill this vehicle departs in reverse to return andthen to empty the corresponding receptacle and then to pass to the nextone. It should in addition be possible, e.g., to free a receptacle whichhas accidentally been overfilled to call the vehicle 7 to thisreceptacle and to fill the vehicle to its maximum capacity.

For these different ends the following are arranged at the emptyingstation; a time switch Mn delivering an initial pulse at the chosen timefor a collection, a relay Ri controlled by this pulse and actuated by apulse at the end of this cycle delivered by a relay GI, a counting relayKn of which the numerical capacity (n) corresponds to the maximum numberof doses that can be carried by the vehicle 7 and finally anelectromagnet ED of which the plunger can move in operation between theposition in full lines and the position in dotted lines.

This plunger is arranged to act on a microswitch mt, of the vehicle 7(assembly II) to cause the latter to depart. The emptying stationadditionally includes a microswitch mc delaying relay RT which togetherwith a change-over switch IVO controls the electrovalve EVO forcontrolling the jack 44 for the emptying of the container 15 and thenits return to its normal position.

In the assembly II (vehicle 7) the microswitch mc, controls the generalcircuit breaker lG which allows the batteries 20 to feed the motors Ill.This supply passes via a potentio-meter or voltage regulator VU and achange-over switch INV. This latter is controlled by a counter relay K,nwhich has the same counting capacity as the relay Kn (n doses). Therelay Kn, is reset to zero by the microswitch mc which is actuated bythe arrival of the vehicle 7 against the abutment 24; it is controlledby the battery 20 (conductors 68, 69) and the number of doses receivedis indicated to it by the microswitch mc in a manner described below.

The vehicle 7 further comprises three other microswitches. The brakingmicroswitch mc is supplied by the battery 20 (conductor 70 whichcontrols the voltage of the regulator VU), the microswitch mc whichcontrols the electromagnetic brakes l3 and a microswitch rnc whichdirectly controls the change-over switch INV. This last microswitch isutilised for emergency repairs or at the end of a complete course toensure the return of the vehicle 7 (see the abutment 71 at theright-hand end of FIG. 8).

Finally the vehicle carries a fixed pedal 72 which acts on theelectrical control of the distributing mechanisms of the collectingstations.

The collection stations are in the main subordinated to a countingrelay: Kx, Ky and K2 respectively for the assemblies III, IV and V ofwhich the counting capacity (x,y and z) corresponds to the number ofdoses necessary at each passage to empty their respective collectingreceptacle 2.

At the first of these stations (assembly III) the relay xx is directlyfed by the relay Ri and the conductor 73.

The following relays are supplied by connections of the conductor 74(under tension as soon as the initial relay Ri is energised) across thecontacts of contact makers CT CT for the penultimate position in such away that a following relay K cannot become activated if the precedingrelays K are not activated either.

In effect as soon as a relay Kx or Ky is activated its output 75 isunder tension and supplies the winding of the corresponding contactmaker CT as well as the electromagnets ER and EF which cause the pedals76 and 77 to project from the level of the track 35.

The pedals 76 and 77 are designed to act respectively on themicroswitches me and me of the vehicle 7 to cause the latter to slowdown and to stop. The projection formedby the pedal 77 is higher thanthat of pedal 76 so that the latter does not prematurely act on thebraking microswitch mc As soon as a vehicle is at a collecting stationits pedal 72 activates the corresponding microswitch (mcA, mcB or mcC)while the microswitch mc comes under the osillating plunger 78mechanically actuated by the movement of the corresponding distributor49.

The distributors also act (by the illustrated sectorshaped cams) onpairs of microswitches mcA mcA mcB mcB mcC mcC respectively, of whichthe first of each pair controls the change-over switch (IVA, IVB, IVCrespectively); the second controls the relay (Kx, Ky, or Kz) and therelay Kn by way of the conductor 79 and its respective connection 79A,79B and 79C. The two microswitches of each pair are supplied from thecorresponding points 75 by a conductor 80 which also energises apressure-limiting device HpZ subordinated to the prevailing pressure inthe associated jack 50 to act via the conductor 81 on the changeoverswitch IVA IVC in the case of overload in the corresponding jack.

In addition ateach post across the microswitch mcA ntcC the point 75feeds a contact-maker CA, CB, CC which feeds the corresponding motorpump 64 arranged to supply oil under pressure to the jacks 50 and 60 Viathe conductors 82 each contact-maker CA CC energises the correspondingelectric change-over switch IVA IVC across a delayed-action relay Rr. Inthis way at each alternation of the displacement of the distributor 49the movement of an electric valve EVA, EVB, EVC, which is controlled bythe changeover switch associated therewith, is delayed in such a waythat if the vehicle 7 isfull it restarts immediately and interrupts themovement of the distributor by breaking contact with one of themicroswitches mcA, mcB, mcC and in this way avoids that the contents ofthe distributor should be discharged into the casing 3. Finally a pushbutton PA, PB and PC is provided at each station which allows theactuation to two pedals 76 and 77 from the permanently energisedconductor 84, the contact-maker CT and the point 75 without causing therelays Kx, Ky or Kz of the corresponding position to intervene.

The operation of the device which has just been described will be clearfrom what has been said. For a resume it should be recalled that in therest position the vehicle 7 is stationed at an emptying position whereits batteries are recharged.

At the selected time the timer Mn initiates a cycle by sending a pulseto the relay Ri. The same pulse ensures via the line 86 the resetting tozero of all the fixed counters Kn, Kx, Ky and Kz (the counter Km havingbeen reset to zero by the microswitch mc In addition the assembly III isenergised by the conductor 73. The vehicle is set in motion by the pulsereceived from the electromagnet ED and arrives at the first distributorwhere the pedals 76 and 77 stop it.

The number x of alternations of the distributor III having beenproduced, if the counter K n is full the vehicle 7 directly departs tothe emptying station; otherwise the counter Kx, having taken the valuex, liberates the passage of the vehicle 7 which then passes to the nextposition where it receives its complement of doses.

The use of the contact-makers CT and CT allows that energisation of theentire circuit can be prevented.

At the end of the cycle the reclosure of contactmaker CT sends a pulseto the relay Gi which resets the relay R1 to zero via the line 86. Itshould be remarked that these last manoeuvres of the last distributormay be effected in the empty state until the counter K n of the vehiclecounted the number n which then permits the vehicle to depart inreverse.

When one of the push buttons PA, PB and PC with delayed engagement ismanually actuated, the halt of the vehicle is prepared for the positionor station where this button has been manipulated and at the same timethe starter electromagnet ED is excited via the line 87 which sets thevehicle 7 in motion.

When the vehicle has arrived at its destination it receives n doseswhich are registered in its own counter Km and then departs in reverse.

In all the cases, when engaging with the abutment ment 24 themicroswitch mc is actuated and the pivoting movement of the container 15is initiated after which the container 15 returns to its place.

Since the assembly shown in FIG. 8a and 8b is essentiallyelectromagnetic, one can supply this assembly with alternating currenthaving a voltage suitably reduced by a transformer.

As already indicated, the'vehicle may also be provided with asynchronousmotors energised by means of a trolley or by the alternating currentfriction contacts, due to these conductors being accessible andextending along the length of the casing in which the vehiclecirculates.

It will be understood that as described the whole installation can berealised with direct current and the scheme of FIGS. 8a and 8b can thenbe in part or wholly electronic.

The invention is applicable to all housing estates, that is to say, theplurality of buildings arranged on a developed terrain so as tocentralise the collection of refuse in this estate so as to limit thenuisance to the inhabitants.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for collecting refuse in a residential estate withmultistorey buildings, wherein each said building has a refuse chutecolumn, a collecting receptacle in which said column terminates at a lowlevel thereof, at least one collecting vehicle for serving thecollecting receptacles of all the buildings, a hollow casing situatedunderneath the said collecting receptacles and formed so as to provide aservice path for said at least one vehicle, and a discharge along saidservice path, there being a general displaceable collecting receptacleat said discharge station.

2. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the service path islinear and there is only one service vehicle which reciprocates alongthe said path.

3. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the said vehicle isself-propelling.

4. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein tyred wheels andlateral rollers with horizontal axes are provided on said vehicle topermit it to be guided by the walls of the casing.

5. Collecting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein means are providedfor electrically propelling the vehicle.

6. Collecting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein batteries arecarried by the vehicle, the discharge station and the vehicle havingcooperating means for charging the batteries automatically when thevehicle is at rest at said station.

7. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the casing isarranged as an inspectable gutter between two buildings.

8. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the casing isestablished underneath the ceiling of the basement within the buildings.

9. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a respectivedistributor is provided for each of the collecting receptacles of thebuildings, which distributors are adapted to move and meter the volumeof refuse deposited at each movement of these distributors into the saidvehicle, and a counting device in the vehicle for summing the batches ofrefuse received and for ini tiating the return of the vehicle in reversewhen the number of batches received corresponds to the capacity of thevehicle.

10. Collecting apparatus according to claim 9 wherein there is a counterassociated with each distributor for permanently determining the numberof batched doses which should be supplied by the distributor for thenormal emptying of the associated receptacle, the said countercontrolling the arresting means for the vehicle relative to thedistributor when the said number has not been reached and for freeingthe path of the vehicle when the said number has been reached.

11. Collecting apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the arrestingmeans comprises at least one track pedal arranged to act on the vehicleand an electromagnet controlled by the counter associated with thedistributor controls said pedal.

12. Collecting apparatus according to claim 11 wherein, in use, each ofthe counters is actuated by a signal coming from the preceding counterand to the active output of each counter energises relay whichinterrupts through a working contact the supply of the next counter,while the first counter is energised directly by a signal coming fromthe starting point of the movement of the collecting vehicle.

13. Collecting apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a double actionfluid pressure jack drives the metering distributors in an alternatingmovement through the intermediation of contact members and a change-overmeans, the jack acting also on the counter associated with thecollecting vehicle and on the counter of the distributor itself.

14. Collecting apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the supply of thefluid pressure jack is subordinated, via a pedal contact, to thepresence of the vehicle at the collection receptacle while thealternating movement of the distributor is delayed, at least in thatsense of the movement which corresponds to its discharge.

15. Collecting apparatus according to claim 13 wherein a pressurelimiting device in the acuating jack controls the change-over means.

16. Collecting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the vehiclecomprises, for starting, a push contact actuated by the displacement ofthe armature of an electromagnet rigidly fixed at the discharge stationand the rest station for the said vehicle, a timing device is connectedto the electromagnet to send control pulses thereto.

17. Collecting apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each collectingreceptacle comprises a push button for energising directly the startingelement and the arresting pedals of the vehicle.

18. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each collectingvehicle comprises a receiving container pivotable about an axis situatedat the side of this container turned towards the starting point of itsrun, and in its return movement the said vehicle comes into abutmentagainst appropriate means at the said end.

19. Collecting device according to claim 18 wherein in the positionwhere the vehicle is in abutment, driving means effect the pivotalmovement of the container around its pivotal axis, said driving meansbeing coaxial with the said axis.

20. Collecting device according to claim 9 wherein each collectingreceptacle comprises at its bottom part a hopper-like structure, a wallof said structure being retractable towards the outside for the manualemptying of the hopper.

2]. Collecting apparatus according to claim 20 wherein a portion of thetrack which receives the vehicle is arranged in the manner of adrawer-type ash bin when the vehicle is charged by the distributor.

22. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the collectingvehicle comprises at the opposite side from the starting point of itsrun an automatic coupling hook and towards the starting point a couplingmember which cooperates with this hook and it has means for reversingits run controlled by the position of the two vehicles in the automaticcoupling position.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,869,050 Dated March 4, 1975 Inventor(s) Jean-Claude MICHEL It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page, Item [73] should read Assignee: SOCIETE INDUSTRIELLE DETRANSPORTS 0 AUTOMOBILES S.I.T.A. (Societe Anonyme) Signed and Saladthis fourth Day of November 1975 [SEAL] A Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner oj'Palentsand Tradema FORM PC4050 uscoMM-Dc cows-P69 LLS. GOVERNMENT PRlNTINGOFFICE 1 I959 O366-334.

1. Apparatus for collecting refuse in a residential estate withmultistorey buildings, wherein each said building has a refuse chutecolumn, a collecting receptacle in which said column terminates at a lowlevel thereof, at least one collecting vehicle for serving thecollecting receptacles of all the buildings, a hollow casing situatedunderneath the said collecting receptacles and formed so as to provide aservice path for said at least one vehicle, and a discharge along saidservice path, there being a general displaceable collecting receptacleat said discharge station.
 2. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1wherein the service path is linear and there is only one service vehiclewhich reciprocates along the said path.
 3. Collecting apparatusaccording to claim 2 wherein the said vehicle is self-propelling. 4.Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein tyred wheels andlateral rollers with horizontal axes are provided on said vehicle topermit it to be guided by the walls of the casing.
 5. Collectingapparatus according to claim 3 wherein means are provided forelectrically propelling the vehicle.
 6. Collecting apparatus accordingto claim 5 wherein batteries are carried by the vehicle, the dischargestation and the vehicle having cooperating means for charging thebatteries automatically when the vehicle is at rest at sAid station. 7.Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the casing is arrangedas an inspectable gutter between two buildings.
 8. Collecting apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the casing is established underneath theceiling of the basement within the buildings.
 9. Collecting apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein a respective distributor is provided foreach of the collecting receptacles of the buildings, which distributorsare adapted to move and meter the volume of refuse deposited at eachmovement of these distributors into the said vehicle, and a countingdevice in the vehicle for summing the batches of refuse received and forinitiating the return of the vehicle in reverse when the number ofbatches received corresponds to the capacity of the vehicle. 10.Collecting apparatus according to claim 9 wherein there is a counterassociated with each distributor for permanently determining the numberof batched doses which should be supplied by the distributor for thenormal emptying of the associated receptacle, the said countercontrolling the arresting means for the vehicle relative to thedistributor when the said number has not been reached and for freeingthe path of the vehicle when the said number has been reached. 11.Collecting apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the arresting meanscomprises at least one track pedal arranged to act on the vehicle and anelectromagnet controlled by the counter associated with the distributorcontrols said pedal.
 12. Collecting apparatus according to claim 11wherein, in use, each of the counters is actuated by a signal comingfrom the preceding counter and to the active output of each counterenergises relay which interrupts through a working contact the supply ofthe next counter, while the first counter is energised directly by asignal coming from the starting point of the movement of the collectingvehicle.
 13. Collecting apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a doubleaction fluid pressure jack drives the metering distributors in analternating movement through the intermediation of contact members and achange-over means, the jack acting also on the counter associated withthe collecting vehicle and on the counter of the distributor itself. 14.Collecting apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the supply of thefluid pressure jack is subordinated, via a pedal contact, to thepresence of the vehicle at the collection receptacle while thealternating movement of the distributor is delayed, at least in thatsense of the movement which corresponds to its discharge.
 15. Collectingapparatus according to claim 13 wherein a pressure limiting device inthe acuating jack controls the change-over means.
 16. Collectingapparatus according to claim 5 wherein the vehicle comprises, forstarting, a push contact actuated by the displacement of the armature ofan electromagnet rigidly fixed at the discharge station and the reststation for the said vehicle, a timing device is connected to theelectromagnet to send control pulses thereto.
 17. Collecting apparatusaccording to claim 16 wherein each collecting receptacle comprises apush button for energising directly the starting element and thearresting pedals of the vehicle.
 18. Collecting apparatus according toclaim 2 wherein each collecting vehicle comprises a receiving containerpivotable about an axis situated at the side of this container turnedtowards the starting point of its run, and in its return movement thesaid vehicle comes into abutment against appropriate means at the saidend.
 19. Collecting device according to claim 18 wherein in the positionwhere the vehicle is in abutment, driving means effect the pivotalmovement of the container around its pivotal axis, said driving meansbeing coaxial with the said axis.
 20. Collecting device according toclaim 9 wherein each collecting receptacle comprises at its bottom parta hopper-like structure, a wall of said structure being retractabletowards the outside for the manual emPtying of the hopper. 21.Collecting apparatus according to claim 20 wherein a portion of thetrack which receives the vehicle is arranged in the manner of adrawer-type ash bin when the vehicle is charged by the distributor. 22.Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the collecting vehiclecomprises at the opposite side from the starting point of its run anautomatic coupling hook and towards the starting point a coupling memberwhich cooperates with this hook and it has means for reversing its runcontrolled by the position of the two vehicles in the automatic couplingposition.